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St. Croix Rod vs. Ugly Stick

23K views 64 replies 27 participants last post by  angelbeingangel  
#1 ·
WHATS YOUR OPINION?

About 4 months ago i picked up a 8' Ugly Stick and I have been using it all the time for mostly many if not all of my fishing applications. I really like the rod but i had the top half of the rod crack on me when i was transporting it to a diff. fishing spot one night. It cracked where the top 1/2 gets put on to the bottom 1/2.(middle of the pole). I want to get another rod but im to sure what to get? How are the St. Croix rods? OR another good brand. I love the Ugly Stick, but I also would like a pole with not that much flex to it like the Ugly Stick has. What do you guys out there think??
 
#4 ·
I agree with prior comments...tons of different rods out there with different compositions and levels of quality. Go online to offshore angler or some similar site and you can compare what's out there at various price ranges/levels of quality. Then go to a tackle store with a decent selection and feel them in person...I shop rods online but buy them in the stores...not much price difference (if you factored in shipping) and makes a big difference to feel it in your hand - bring the reel you plan to use with it so you can gauge the balance when attached.

If possible, I'd recommend going with a one piece rod...huge difference in action and feel

-Scott

This post edited by Surfrat66 01:05 PM 10/16/2007
 
#5 ·
yea, those St. Rods do come with a cost. but i guess the same applies with fishing rods as with anything else...You get what you pay for. I would like to invest in that pole cause I'v never heard a bad complaint about the brand. Pluse i'v heard the action and feel that you can recieve and feel through the pole is great. But while we are on the topic......What is the main diff. between CASTING RODS, CONVENTIONAL RODS AND SPINNING RODS?? The fishing environment I'm always in is inshore, mainly under bridges and backbays, some piers. 90% of the time im down under the Robert Mosses bridge at Captree state park. What would be the right rod for that? Conventional, spinning or casting?
 
#6 ·
St. Croix

I picked up a St. Croix rod about this time last year at a fishing expo @ Nassau Coliseum. I think it ran me about 150, def my most expensive rod, but i agree with the comments above....the sensitivity is awesome! Its a 7' 1-piece graphite, its classified as a muskie rod but I used it for fluking, bass, blues, seabass, and i plan on getting a few blackfish with it this winter......very versatile and no complaints here!
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Just couldnt bring myself to dropping 250 bucks for a Loomis rod......check out that expo though, they had some good deals
 
#7 ·
down4200,

I am not 100% positive what the difference is between conventional and casting..........but if your fishing from a boat you defeinitely want to have one baitcasting style rod (like a boat rod) on board for all of your bottom fishing, light casting/flipping, jigging, etc..........and its a smart idea to have a spinning rod on board for snagging bunker, casting into a school of fish, things like that.

A fully stocked arsenal is never a bad thing........
 
#8 ·
I've snapped 2 St. Croix rods and will never waste my time buying another. I fish only with light tackle and so far my favorite rod has been a 3 piece 7', MH fast action Cabela's rod. I've done everything with the Cabela's rod that I snapped the two Cabela's rods with and again...I WILL NEVER WASTE MY TIME AND MONEY BUYING A ST. CROIX ROD...EVER.

Even the customer service was miserable...

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#9 ·
thank you guys for your opinion in this. its better the hear it from people who accually use the product and have there time in on the product. Im going to do alittle research one the diff. between all those diff. kinds of models and i will post it back up here.
 
#10 ·
St. Croix=Awesome. I have 5 of 'em for different things and love 'em all. Take a look at the tidemaster series for inshore stuff. A bit cheaper than the other models, and I have caught everything from schoolies to mahi to tarpon on my TS70MHF
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#12 ·
thedown4200 wrote:
WHATS YOUR OPINION?


I have had both brands break on me. The Ugly stick lasted longer and cost far less. St. Croix is garbage, I lost count of how many I have seen fail. I busted two myself.

I now use Tsunami trophy series. I have not broken one yet, nor have I seen one break.
 
#13 ·
For some strange reason I think some of you guys busting rods are not using them for what there rated for seen a lot of guys do stuff like that. They own one or two rods and try to toss tins then toss 6 oz of lead and a chunk and then ***** that there rod thats rated for one oz breaks. Just a thought.

This post edited by hdcycles 08:37 PM 10/17/2007
 
#15 ·
It's not the rods that fail, it's the person that's fishing them. When used properly and maintained they will last a lifetime. There is no one rod that will suit every application. Gear yourself up accordingly.

down4200, I would purchase a St. Croix rod over an Ugly Stick any day. No questions asked.
 
#16 ·
I have two Uglysticks. A smaller one I use for freshwater and a bigger one for fishing from piers and for smaller fish on boats. I have some rods that were more expensive but honestly I love the two I have. Personally from what I've seen and experienced I dont think you need to drop a lot of money to get a good rod. These rods are sensitive enough to feel the slightest hits and durable enough to handle nice catches, even in rough conditions.
 
#17 ·
hands down St. Croix

I hve two of them. The most comfortable rod I'vr ever fished with. Sensitive but with Balls.

Great great rod - next best thing to custom built & worth the money.
 
#18 ·
I agree with many of the previous posts that you have to try them yourself. Many stores will carry both brands. Personally, I prefer the St. Croix?s by a mile - i have several. Many of the Ugly?s are way too whippy. If you?re going to get an ugly, try the tiger series (mustard color). They?re stiffer and have more backbone.
 
#19 ·
funny you should say that.........

I use a St. Croix Spinning Rod (Ben Dorr Elite) for surf casting & the Ugly Stick Tiger or bottom fishing or trolling from my canoe.

Two nice rods - each used for different applications.

One is light weight & throws a lure a country mile - the other is sensitive enough to use for all types of bottom fishing.
 
#20 ·
MyRival wrote:
I've snapped 2 St. Croix rods and will never waste my time buying another. I fish only with light tackle and so far my favorite rod has been a 3 piece 7', MH fast action Cabela's rod. I've done everything with the Cabela's rod that I snapped the two Cabela's rods with and again...I WILL NEVER WASTE MY TIME AND MONEY BUYING A ST. CROIX ROD...EVER.

Even the customer service was miserable...

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Not doubting your bad experience, but I had to return my fly rod to them twice, (my fault), and they've flipped the rod back to me within two weeks at the price of shipping only. Very positive with Customer Service and I use that fly rod, fourty times a year, beating the heck out of it... all good.
 
#21 ·
I hate to ask again...

I figured I will throw this one out there again. Mabey someone will know? I'v been trying to research online all day yesterday about ......What is the main diff. between CASTING RODS, CONVENTIONAL RODS AND SPINNING RODS? I'v searched all over the internet about it and I can't seem to get a good definition on the difference. Does anyone out there know?? It would be much help when buying my new rod. I could just ask the guy at the B&T. but I would like to walk into the store already having some idea of what they mean. And thank you all for your posts and opinions.
 
#22 ·
CAsting rod is usually referred to a FW baitcaster rod, or a light SW rod
Conventional, usually referred to in the SW, for use with conventional reels.
Spinning - a rod used with spinning reels.

hoonestly, if you do not know the difference between these types of rods, you will be one of teh guys saying St. Croix sucks, but Cabela's and Tsunami are better. It's too bad people aren't forced to post with their real names and pictures, so if we se them we know to avoid the hammerheads.

For under the bridge fishing, locked drag - DO NOT get any graphite rod or you will break it, especailly if you are used to teh Ugly Sticks which DO NOT break.
 
#23 ·
Billy40

HEY, THANKS MAN. I ACCUALLY JUST FOUND OUT THE DIFFRENCE BETWEEN THEM. Spin casting rods are rods designed to hold a spin casting reel, which are normally mounted above the handle. Spin casting rods also have small eyes and a forefinger grip trigger. They are very similar to bait casting rods, to the point where either type of reel may be used on a particular rod.
Spinning rods are made from graphite or fiberglass with a cork or PVC foam handle, and tend to be between 5 and 8.5 feet (1.5 - 2.6 m) in length. Typically, spinning rods have anywhere from 5-8 large-diameter guides arranged along the underside of the rod to help control the line. The eyes decrease in size from the handle to the tip, with the one nearest the handle usually much larger than the rest to allow less friction as the coiled line comes off the reel.